Fortyeightvows wrote:just throwing it out there but if someone learned their zhuyin, that would allow them to recite most of the lituragy.
and i'm curious as to why Venerable said to check Bodhi monastary off the list?

Zhuyin helps with liturgy that has zhuyin, which is limited. You'd really be settling for a handicap, when it's definitely possible to learn Chinese. Zhuyin is only as much of an aid as pinyin, which doesn't get you far. Seriously, if somone is interested in dedicating their life to studying Buddhism, and have the time and ability, why would someone wilfully choose not to learn the primary languages, be it Chinese, Pali, Sanskrit, or Tibetan? In my opinion, these are just the threshold, they're not the goal. You need these basic stepping stones if you want to both progress in your own learning, and help others.

It seems to me that a more direct way of accomplishing this would be to remain a lay person, learn Chinese, and find some Chinese Chan master whom you can visit and receive teachings from once every year or two (sort of in the same way that lots of Tibetan Buddhists only see their gurus periodically). You don't sound like you are willing to give up your autonomy and that is really a main part of ordaining (because from a Buddhist perspective much of "autonomy" is just an illusion anyway...).

It's great that you are inspired to study and practice Buddhism more deeply, but try and find a way of doing so that is within your capabilities and which you won't eventually just end up hating. I wish you good luck.